Anderson Silva expresses serious doubts about fighting after UFC 237

Based on his own words, it’s safe to consider Anderson Silva’s fighting future very much in question.

Silva, the former longtime UFC middleweight champion, is coming off a disappointing loss to Jared Cannonier last weekend at UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro. More concerning, though, is the status of Silva’s health after an inside leg kick caused his knee to buckle, forcing the stoppage late in the first round.

Two days later, Silva’s initial reaction to the unfortunate turn of events, while cryptic, seemed to indicate the 44-year-old legend isn’t finished competing just yet. On Wednesday, though, his tone changed.

“In these four days, after yet another unsuccessful mission, I’m questioning whether I should or not keep training, dedicating myself, overcoming injuries, pain, etc.,” Silva said on Instagram. “I ask myself always, ‘Is the love that I feel for my sport consuming my mind and my body to the point I can no longer continue?’”

Hello, everyone … I’m constantly asking myself, what are each of us doing on this planet? If life is just about living for the sake of living the hours and minutes to the maximum, that is definitely not my motto. I have full conviction that there is a bigger meaning in everything that we live and do here, life in this terrestrial plane has a bigger meaning than just living for the sake of living. I believe it’s a constant search for evolution. In these four days, after yet another unsuccessful mission, I’m questioning whether I should or not keep training, dedicating myself, overcoming injuries, pain, etc. I ask myself always, ‘Is the love that I feel for my sport consuming my mind and my body to the point I can no longer continue?’ Anyway… Everything I’ve always done was to be a good soldier in my battle field, the most well-trained, the most disciplined and ready to die for my mission, because my love for my job has always talked and still talks louder. I am totally certain that I can do all of this another 1000 times, but the last four days with pain and uncertainty, which are not new in my everyday life, are consuming more than before. Actually, my heart and my warrior mind confuse me to the point of creating doubts. On the one hand, I realize I’m not and I don’t need to be perfect, how much this search has brought me good things and bad things over the years.

Why did I decide to tell you about what I’m feeling? Because I believe that many of those of you who follow me like and admire my work and, on the other hand, I’m always trying to bring positive messages of motivation to all of you. Guys, what we really must do is take all the opportunities that life gives us to improve ourselves as people. Therefore, always remember that failures are your best teachers and that it’s in the hard moments that people need to find reasons to keep going forward. Our actions, especially when we need to overcome ourselves, make us better people. Our ability to resist and stay on path is what makes us special people.

Silva (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC) is facing a potential six-month medical suspension from the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission, unless he’s cleared sooner by an orthopedic doctor. Prior to UFC 237, Silva – who went all three rounds in a loss to now interim champ Israel Adesanya – didn’t rule out trying to make one last run at the 185-pound title.